International Trade Minister for Canada, Chrystia Freeland,says that it might not be possible for a deal to be struck between Canada and the U.S. when it comes to softwood-lumber.
According to an article in the Globe and Mail, Freeland knows that a deal might not be reached by the October deadline. Washington would then be allowed to put duties on timber from Canada.
The reason making it hard to reach a deal? The protectionist climate in Washington. Freeland says that it is worse than any time since the Second World War.
The 2006 softwood-lumber deal expired on October 12th of 2015. Under terms of that deal, Washington said they would not initiate a new trade case against Canada for one more year. That one year, comes to an end next month.
Freeland has already met with American lumber producers to try to reach a solution.